Chapter Two

On to the second chapter! I must point out, this story doesn't exactly line up with the actual series.

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with Merlin. I only own Isowen.

Merlin finished wrapping a bandage around Isowen's injured ankle and tied the ends together in silence (a novelty really). While he had treated her injury, Isowen had not bothered to speak much other than to answer a couple of questions regarding how she had broken her ankle. Instead, she had merely stared at the lad in confusion. If he was Emrys, then why was he acting as a servant instead of a knight or something more noble? Why would the greatest warlock of all time stoop to such a lowly position?

Isowen kept her face impassive as Merlin stood back up. No wonder she had felt such a strong source of magic in him when she had stumbled across the encampment earlier. She wondered vaguely if the king knew about his servant was a sorcerer, but then dismissed the thought. Even she knew that magic was forbidden in Camelot.

As the young man began to walk away, Isowen caught his sleeve. "Thank you, Merlin." She softly said.

He nodded his head with a light smile and replied, "It's no problem, really. I'm sorry that we caused you to get hurt in the first place." His apology was sincere and made the girl a bit more at ease.

"I have to wonder," Arthur said as he approached the pair, "why were you traveling alone through the forest in the dark? Surely you are aware of all of the dangers that lurk here." His tone was concerned and curious at the same time.

Isowen looked down at her lap. "I was told to flee my home. There is someone searching for me, someone very dark. I cannot say why they seek me out, but I fear that no good can come of it." She said quietly and darkly.

The group was silent for a moment. Then Arthur spoke up. "If you wish, you may come with us to Camelot. No harm shall come to you whilst you are there. I will even assign knights to guard you from this person who searches for you."

"I accept the offer to come to Camelot, for they wouldn't dare attack me there. But please do not have men guard me. Should there be an attack they would merely be injured or worse. The one who seeks me is not a force to be reckoned with and, I fear, they shall not be easily stopped." She didn't know why, but Isowen felt it better to not tell Arthur and his knights just who it was that she was fleeing from.

Arthur had an odd look on his face at hearing her request, but – for once – did not push the effort. "You may ride with one of us then. Though, after your earlier encounter with him, I would not suggest Gwaine." Snickers erupted from the other knights while said man looked away indignantly.

Isowen smiled. Arthur truly was a kind king. "If it is not too much trouble, I would much prefer to ride with Merlin."

Surprise was evident on everyone's faces for the briefest of moments before they all covered it up. Merlin had stopped what he was doing, unable to comprehend why Isowen had requested to ride with him, though he was not at all disappointed in her choice.

"He looks to be the lightest, therefore the two of us would be easier for a horse to carry than if I rode with someone wearing armor and weapons." She explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Merlin let out a breath he didn't even realize he had been holding. So that was it, concern for the horses. He couldn't put his finger on it, but for some reason he was almost sad that the girl – whom had just met and had barely spoken to, mind you – had chosen to ride with him out of concern for the horses. Though, he wasn't unhappy, per say. Under most circumstances, a pretty girl like her would have favored riding with one of the knights, specifically Gwaine. But it was rather obvious that this was no ordinary girl. He could feel her power swirling within her, begging to be released. He guessed that she was just as powerful as himself, if not more so. It was as if her entire being was made of magic.

Isowen turned and caught his eye. Merlin was momentarily taken aback by the strange yet beautiful violet color of her eyes. No normal human or sorcerer had such eyes. He made up his mind immediately that he would need to speak to Kilgarrah about the girl. With power such as hers, she would either be his greatest ally or his most dangerous foe.

Arthur gave the command to mount their horses, drawing Merlin from his thoughts and prompting him to go over to where Isowen sat on a fallen tree. He offered his hand to her, which she took with just the smallest of hesitations. A shock passed through the two of them as their skin touched, and both barely suppressed a shiver.

"Let me help you over to the horse. You know, since you can't walk yet." He said clumsily. Isowen smiled and pulled herself up with the help of Merlin. The two of them slowly made their way to where Merlin's horse awaited his riders.

With a strength surprising for someone of his build, Merlin lifted Isowen up to the saddle. She smiled slightly down at him, causing the warlock to blush as he clambered on in front of her. The blush deepened and spread to his ears as he felt the girl wrap her arms around his waist so as to secure herself from falling off.

The knights started off through the forest in the opposite direction from which Isowen had come. At first it was quiet, the sounds of the forest being all anyone could hear. It wasn't until they had ridden for about half an hour that Merlin spoke.

"Why were you riding a hippogriff?" He queried, taking Isowen by surprise. She had assumed that no one had noticed that detail since she had fallen just after Sir Leon had threatened the creature.

"He offered his assistance soon after I left my village. I have no doubt that he would have carried me all the way to where I was supposed to go had we not stumbled across your camp." She said."

Merlin turned his head slightly to look at her, an eyebrow cocked in curiosity. "And where might that have been?"

Isowen hesitated then looked away. "I do not know exactly. Hippogriffs are said to help lead a person to their destiny, though I haven't the faintest idea of what mine is." That last part was whispered, almost too quietly for the sorcerer to hear. Almost.

"Perhaps it did." He suggested. "Maybe this is part of your destiny."

Her eyes widened slightly. She had not considered that she was where she was supposed to be. Her mind wandered to the scroll resting in her knapsack, waiting to be read. What secrets about her fate did it hold?

She was brought out of her thoughts by Merlin's next question.

"Who is looking for you?"

Isowen debated for a moment on if she should tell him. After a moment she decided that if she was to trust anyone it would have to be Merlin. He was, after all, the only one like her, the only one who would understand why Morgana would search for her. She didn't know why, but something about the servant boy called to her soul in an unexplainable way.

"Morgana." She whispered. Merlin started, but quickly masked his shock with confusion.

"Why would she be searching for you?" His voice had taken on a dark edge, like he was wary of her answer.

"I know not why she seeks me. I have never met her, neither in life nor in a vision. What I do know is that I would never succumb to her her wishes, for I fear she may want to use me to harm King Arthur, an act that I will not allow myself to do. Though he forbids magic, he is the greatest king to ever rule Camelot. I cannot let Morgana ruin that."

Merlin seemed to relax at her words. Isowen could tell then that the lad cared deeply for his master and friend. She could sense his magic calming down inside of him, affirming her suspicion that he would not have hesitated to be rid of her should she prove to be a threat to the king.